Candles are dim because they are deep red w tall walls above the flame, but look quite realistic. This candle has a single flame covered bulb in the center - there might be multiple flames under the bulb, but you only see a single bulb - however, it's much more realistic, since three bare light bulbs aren't throwing shadows. On other, brighter, candles, you could easily see three separate shadows on the wall, and that didn't look realistic. This one really does seem like a real candle!